Fourth to george w



(N0 ModeL) G. ESTERLY.

GRAIN BINDING MAGHINB. No. 327,931. Patented 001;. 6, 1885 71. mils,mmuun n m, WM D. C.

rrn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE ESTERLY, OF WHITEWA'IER, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- FOURTH TOGEORGE W. ESTERLY, OF SAME PLACE.

GRAIN-BINDING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 327,931, dated October6, 1885. Application filed January 25, 1884. Serial No. 118,720. (Nomodel.)

To aZZ whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that 1', GEORGE EsTERLY, of Whitewater, in the county of\Valworth and State of XVisconsin, have invented certain Improvements inGrain-Binding Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference more especially to those binding-machinesin which upright endless aprons are employed to act on the butts of themoving grain for the purpose of adjusting the same longitudinally, tothe end that the binding mechanism may apply the band at the middle. Itis the special aim of the invention to retain the grain in its properposition after it has been adjusted by and carried beyond the butter oradjuster apron.

To this end it consists in combining, with the apron, an adjustablefinger arranged below or beyond its end,to assistin arresting themovement of the grain.

It also consists in the peculiar manner of mounting and connecting saidfinger in order that it may be adjusted forward and backward to suit thevarying positions of the adjuster apron.

It also consists in an improved sliding j oint for connecting thesheet-metal covering or decking, which overlies the main wheel or grainpassage, with the adjustable binder.

It also further consists in combining, with the needle or binder arm,grain-packing arms located on opposite sides thereof, the arm nearestthe head of the grain acting in closer proximity to the needle than theother, the object of this arrangement being to prevent the grain frombeing thrown out of position by the action of the packer.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective viewof a portion of a harvester-frame, the binding-table, and such portionsof the binding mechanism as are necessary to an understanding of myinvention. Fig. 2is a perspective view,on a larger scale, of thegrain-detaining finger and the devices for supporting and adjusting thesame. Fig. 3 is an elevation illustrating the position of the twopackers with respect to the needle.

The machine represented in the drawings is substantially the same, asregards its general construction and mode of action, as that representedin Letters Patent of the United States granted to me August 1, 1882, No.262,026,aud No. 266,254, October 17,1882, and such features as are notrepresented herein may be constructed in accordance with said patents.

A represents the elevatorframe, commonly known as the A frame, of theharvester, and B the binding-table, inclined downward and outward fromthe top of the elevatorframe in such manner as to overhang the mainwheel on the stubble side.

The grain is delivered from the harvesterplatform,by elevating mechanismof any ordinary character, in a continuous stream upon the upper edge ofthe binding-table, and, descending thereon, is compacted and bound at apoint near the lower edge of the same.

The packing mechanism for moving the grain downward, the compressor ortrip-arm against which the grain is compacted, and the devices forapplying and securing the band may all be constructed in the mannerrepresented in Patent No. 266,25i, above referred to.

0 represents a rigid standard, commonly known as the binder-gearstandard, the upper end of which overhangs the bindingtable from theforward side, to give support to the shaft which carries the ejector-armand the gears for imparting motion to various parts of the bindingmechanism.

D represents a horizontal bar maintained at its forward end by rigidsupports, and also overhanging the grain-table from the forward side.

E represents what is commonly known as the breast-plate, arranged abovethe binding-table in the usual manner, and connected with theextremities of the bar D and standard 0, this plate serving to act uponthe grain from above and cooperate with the bindingtable in effectingits confinement and compression.

F represents the endless adjuster belt or apron, arranged to travelaround two upright rollers at the forward side of the bindingtable toact on the butts of the grain, the lower roll being sustained in a framewhich swings about the axis of the upper so that the frame and apron maybe swung laterally, to vary the inclination or obliquity of the activeface of the apron with respect to the path of the grain. The rearvertical face of the apron, acting against the butt-s of the grain,pushes the same backward in an endwise direction to a greater or lessextent, according tothe position in which the apron is placed.

For various reasons it is found necessary in practice to limit thelength of the adjusterapron F, which terminates at a point below whichthe grain is carried. It is found that owing to this fact the grain,after being carried below the apron, is liable to slide endwise, andthus lose the adjustment which was effected by means of the apron. It isto avoid this difficulty, and also to retain the short grain in properposition for binding, that my improvement is particularly designed. Forthis purpose I provide a depending elastic finger, K, located adjacentto the lower end of the adjuster-apron F, but extending downward aboveor upon the surface of the binding-table at a point below or beyond thelower end of the apron, so that the butts of the grain,

after passing below the end of the apron, encounter and are held inposition by the said finger. The finger is advantageous not only in thatit holds the short grain and prevents the same from working or slidingforward, stringing out the bundle to an undue length, but also, in caseof exceedingly long grain, that it sustains the butts and prevents themfrom sliding downward, as occurs in machines of ordinary character. Inorder that the arm K may retain its proper relative position withrespect'to the apron and remain in close proximity thereto under itsvarious adjustments it is made adjustable forward and backward. It maybe supported for this purpose by means of any suitable character, but itis preferred to attach the upper end of the finger, as shown in Figs. 1and 2, to a sleeve or plate L, sus tained by and arranged to slideforward and backward upon the horizontal bar D, before mentioned, whichoverhangs the binding-table. The plate L may be slotted and secured inposition by means of bolts passed through the slots, as in Fig. 1, orotherwise confined in place.

The adjustment of the finger may be effected by connecting with itssupporting-sleeve L a rod or handle, M, extending thence upward andbackward to apoint adjacent to the drivers seat. This adjusting bar orrod may be provided or combined with means for looking it in position,the most simple means being to provide the bar with a series of notches,a, on the under side in order that it may be engaged with a stationaryeye or guide, b, secured on the main frame.

The adjusting apron may be controlled in its position by means of anindependent rod or handle, 0, as represented in Fig. 1; or, ifpreferred, the sleeve which carries my detaining-finger K may beconnected in anysuitable manner with the frame of the adjuster apron, orwith the devices for adjusting said frame, so that the apron and thefinger will be adjusted simultaneously and compelled to retain theirproper relative positions, the finger moving backward and forward withthe apron, so that it will under all circumstances act upon the grain ata point near the butts.

A simple means for thus connecting the movable finger andthe frame withthe adj usterapron is a link, R, as represented by dotted lines in Fig.1.

I am aware that depending spring fingers fixed .in position have beenemployed to assist in holding grain from falling down during theaccumulation of the gavel. The fingers being immovable, it followed thatwhenever the adjuster-apron was moved forward the fingers would act uponthe grain at a point more or less distant from the ends.

Vhile I have described the grain detaining finger in connection with anendless adj usterapron, it is to be understood that it may be employedin connection with adjusting-boards having a longitudinal or vibratorymotion, as in various Letters Patent granted to Travis, Case, Olin,andothers.

The binder-frame is mounted, as usual in machines of this class, to moveforward and backward on the harvester-frame.

The binder-frame is provided, as usual,with horizontal sustainingrods T,attached thereto and extending in a forward and backward directionthrough supports attached to the harvester-frame.

The shield or decking G, overlying the grain table and passage, toconfine the grain, is se cured firmly to the harvester-frame, and isconnected at its lower edge to the adjustable binder by means of asliding joint in essentially the same manner and for the same purpose asdescribed in Letters Patent No. 262,026, granted to me on the 1st day ofAugust, 1882.

In place of thejoint representedin the original patent, I representinthe drawings adevice of improved construction for the same purpose. Thepresent connection consists simply of a horizontal rod, U, mounted atitsends in plates V, riveted or otherwise secured firmly to the decking. Acentral portion of this rod-is extended through ears or studs on the'under side of the movable breast-plate E. As the binder is adjustedforward and backward, the

the rod serves to maintain a connection between the parts and to retainthe lower edge of the decking firmly in place with respect to thebreast-plate and other moving parts. In this manner the lower edge ofthe decking is held down in place and prevented from being forced upwardby the accumulation of grain thereunder. The construction represented inthe drawings is superior .to that of the original patent, in that itadmits of the edge of the decking being extended downward beneath-thejoint and below the upper edge of the breastplate.

Ami

For the purpose of forcing the grain downward over the binding-table Imake use of packer-arms W, arranged to rise alternately with acirculatory motion through slots in the binding-table on opposite sidesof the needlearm X. In their general construction and mode of actionthese packers and the needle arm are identical with those represented inLetters Patent No. 266,254. Hitherto it has been the custom to arrangethe two packers at unequal distances from the binder-arm, the one nextthe butts of the grain nearer the needle than the one next the heads. Inpractice it is found that when the binding-cord is drawn taut the packernearest the heads of the grain, having the greatest leveragethereon,will pull the grain off from the binding cord during thecommencement of the formation of the gavel, the result of this actionbeing that more or less grain is discharged from the machine in anunbound condition. To avoid this difficulty I locate the packer whichacts on the buttends of the grain at a greater distance from the needlethan the packer which acts upon the heads. In practical operations ofthe machines, Ihave discovered that by thus arrang ing the packers atdifferent distances from the needle, I am enabled to retain the grain inthe required position with respect to the binding-cord and to preventthe usual escape of the unbound grain. The essence of my invention inthis regard consists in the employment of two packers,located onopposite sides of the needle, the packer which acts upon the butts beinglocated at a greater distance from the needle than the one whichoperates upon the heads; and it is manifest that this improvement isapplicable in connection with packers of the various types in commonuse.

It will be observed that the lower portion of the binding-table, overwhich the bundle is discharged after being bound, has its upper surfacedepressed or thrown backward below the level of the remaining portion,this construction being adopted to facilitate the release of the bundle,and relieve the machine from a portion of the strain which wouldotherwise be encountered. In Letters Patent of the United States issuedto me on the 17th day of July, 1883, No. 281,623, is described and showna binding'table, the lower portion of which has a backward inclinationtoward the edge, the upper and lower portions of the table having theirsurfaces in planes which stand at an angle to each other. The presentarrangement differs therefrom in that the lower portion of the table isset bodily backward or downward with its surface in a plane parallel tothe surface of the upper or remaining portion of the table. Thisarrangement is found to give in action better results than thatdescribed in the original patent.

The

lower edge of the table is provided with the usual hinged bars orguards, which are maintained in an upright position to hold the gavelduring the binding operation,and subsequently depressed to admit of thebundle being discharged over them.

lVhat I claim as my invention is-- 1. In combination with abuttadjusting device, substantially as described, to effect thelongitudinal movement of the grain, a detaining-finger located below orbeyond the ad juster and adjustable in the direction of the length ofthe grain, substantially as described and shown.

2. In combination with the grain -supporting surface, the endlessbutt-adjusting apron F and the elastic detaining-finger K, adjustable inthe direction of thelength of the grain, as described and shown.

3. In combination with the adj uster-apron, the grain-detaining fingerK, located below or beyond said apron, and the manual-operating deviceextending thence to a point adjacent to the drivers seat, whereby thedriver is enabled to determine the position of the finger at will.

4. In combination with a movable buttadjusting mechanism, substantiallyas described. a detaining-finger located. below or beyond saidmechanism, and a connection, substantially as described, whereby theadjusting device and the finger are caused to move for ward and backwardin unison.

5. In a grain-binding machine, the combination of the needle-arm and thetwo circulatory packers located on opposite sides of the needle, thepacker which acts neXt to the butts of the grain being located at agreater distance from the needle than the other.

6. In a grain-binding machine, the combination of the two circulatoryalternately-acting packers and an intermediate needle or binder armarranged to vibrate in a plane nearer the packer which acts upon theheads than the packer which acts upon the butts, whereby the cord islaid in such a position with respect to the packers as to prevent thegrain from being thrown out of position thereby.

7. In combination with the harvester-frame and the binder movableforward and backward thereon, the decking G, secured rigidly at itsupper edge to the harvester-frame, the plates V, secured to the loweredge of the decking, and the rod U, seated in said plates and extendedthrough a projection on the binder, as described and shown.

GEORGE ESTERLY.

Vitnesses:

J ..H. PAGE, E. I. THoMPsoN.

